On 6 and 7 June 2017, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) facilitated a sub-regional workshop to strengthen the capacity of Southeast Asian States to implement the UN Program of Action (PoA) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). The event included practical exercises on utilizing the reporting mechanism of the UN PoA and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) as well as on elaborating National Action Plans. Participants from ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste, representing relevant ministries and agencies involved in conventional arms control, met with representatives from ASEANAPOL and UNODA/UNRCPD.

The training aimed to encourage strengthened PoA reporting prior to the 2018 Review Conference. Capacities of States in Southeast Asia should be reinforced to effectively utilize the PoA reporting mechanism to reflect States’ efforts to prevent and combat illicit trade in SALW, including to monitor and report progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 16.4 to significantly reduce illicit arms flows. Government officials were provided with practical advice and skills on collecting national data, as well as preparing and submitting national reports online. Participants also developed increased understanding of how PoA reporting can contribute to and support national efforts toward meeting SDG 16.4. Additionally, government experts acquired expanded knowledge and understanding of synergies between the PoA reporting mechanisms and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and discussed possible elements of National Action Plans.

The event was hosted by the Government of Lao PDR in cooperation with UNRCPD and was funded by the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR).

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